ALLISON GROW RYAN

Partner

Did You Know?

Before becoming an attorney, Allison worked in Alzheimer’s disease research.

Allison’s favorite holiday is the 4th of July.

Allison plays the flute and the piano.

Allison is proud to share her birthday with Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with You!

Allison can’t swim.

Allison is the first woman in her family to graduate from college and the first person to earn a graduate degree.

Allison’s signature dish: Swedish pancakes.

Allison won grammar competitions in middle school (but is a terrible speller).

Allison has always been an Illinois resident, completing both college and law school in the state.

Allison runs the Shamrock Shuffle (an 8k) every St. Patrick’s Day.

Allison is a commercial litigator and trial lawyer who represents clients in courts and alternative dispute resolution forums across the country.  She routinely handles claims for breach of contract, trademark violations, unfair and deceptive trade practices, wage and hour law violations, and franchise registration and relationship law violations.   Allison has extensive experience with large and complex cases involving multiple franchisees or franchisee associations, as well as employment and other class actions. Allison is particularly skilled at managing electronic discovery.  She works closely with internal IT departments and outside vendors to develop creative and efficient solutions to ESI challenges.

Allison advises inside general counsel, boards of directors, and other executives regarding numerous aspects of the franchisor-franchisee relationship.  She drafts complex advice memoranda, litigation avoidance strategies, and practical checklists for use in franchise systems.  For example, Allison renders advice regarding joint employer liability, brand transformations, minimum wage laws, vicarious liability, the litigation risks of mergers and acquisitions, and best practices for document retention and storage.

Prior to joining Cheng Cohen, Allison was a commercial litigator at a Chicago law firm where she prosecuted and defended claims regarding D&O liability, commercial contracts, employment, intellectual property, and corporate governance.

  • Education

    • Juris Doctor, Northwestern University School of Law
    • Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, Wheaton College
  • Associations

    • International Franchise Association – Legal/Legislative Committee
    • American Bar Association Forum on Franchising – Women’s Caucus Steering Committee
    • Northern Illinois Franchise Association
    • Women’s Franchise Network – Chicago Chapter, Co-Chair
    • Logikcull Customer Advisory Board
  • Bar Admissions

    • State of Illinois
    • United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Tenth Circuits
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and District of Colorado
  • Awards & Recognitions

    • Illinois Super Lawyer (2014-2023)
    • Franchise Times “Legal Eagle”
  • Speaking & Publications

    • Co-Speaker, “Regulatory Watch: Guaging the Legislative Impacts on Franchising”, Franchise Times Legal Eagle Virtual Summit (March 2023)
    • Speaker, “2022 Judicial Update”, IFA Legal Symposium (May 2022)
      • Author “2022 Judicial Update: Select Encroachment, Disclosure, Fraud and Termination Cases” (May 2022)
    • Speaker, Franchise Times Legal Eagle Virtual Summit (April 2022)
    • Author and Speaker, “Winning Round One: A Preliminary Injunction Motion in a Franchise Case”, ABA Annual Forum on Franchising (Oct. 2018)
    • Co-Author, “Effectiveness of the Legislative Response to Joint Employer Liability”, Franchise Law Journal (Winter 2018)
    • Author and Speaker, “Basics Track: Trademarks and IP”, IFA Legal Symposium (May 2017)
    • Co-Author, “Are You Ready to Franchise?”, Food Industry News (Dec. 2015)
    • Co-Author, “Navigating the Muddy Waters of the Affordable Care Act in Franchising”, Franchise Law Journal (Fall 2014)
    • Co-Author, “Anti-Waiver Arguments and Enforcement of Forum-Selection Clauses”, Franchising Business & Law Alert (Aug. 2014)